Abayon says De Lima must be arrested, if…

The youngest member of the House Committee on Justice yesterday said the legislative panel should follow the “rule of law” and order Senator Leila de Lima’s arrest if she makes good her promise to ignore the “show-cause order” issued by the committee.

The 72 hours the justice panel gave De Lima to explain why she should not be cited in contempt of the Lower House and ordered arrested will lapse today. She has vowed not to respond to the show-cause order, saying that she is ready to face arrest than dignify the directive.

In a news forum in Quezon City, Aangat Tayo Party-list Rep. Harlin Neil Abayon III, 28, cited the rules of procedure of the House of Representatives on alleged obstruction of congressional proceedings which many congressmen said De Lima was guilty of committing.

“That really amounts to contempt, we have to follow the rule of law. So, I will vote in favor of the (issuance) of warrant of arrest,” Abayon said when asked how he will vote if a motion is raised to have De Lima arrested on contempt charge.

A law student, Abayon admitted that public sympathy will shift towards De Lima if arrested but he stressed that the law must be followed.